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Tag: National Working Committee

  • PDP in final talks with APC breakaway group

    Talks between the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and members of the breakaway group of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), were intensified at the weekend.

    A large number of aggrieved prominent chieftains of the APC had, on Wednesday, announced the formation of the Reformed APC, signaling their exit from the mainstream APC.

    Membership of the Reformed APC, as announced by its chairman, Alhaji Buba Galadima, cut across the various defunct political parties that merged to form the APC in 2014.

    Prominent among the chieftains being targeted by the PDP include the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki who is the de facto leader of the Reformed APC.

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara and a large number of members of the two chambers of the National Assembly are also members of the group.

    Friday’s judgment of the Supreme Court discharging and acquitting Saraki of 18-count asset declaration case brought against him by the Federal Government before the Code of Conduct Tribunal has strengthened the hands of members of the Reformed APC.

    Read Also: PDP feeling anti-graft heat, says Presidency

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed on Friday that Saraki’s acquittal by the apex court has rejuvenated members of the group, who had awaited the judgment with bated breath.

    None of the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP was willing to comment on the status of negotiations between the party and the Reformed APC members.

    However, a highly placed party source confided in our correspondent on Friday that talks between the PDP and the defecting members of the APC were being wrapped up.

    “You seem to be in a hurry to get information about how far we have gone. But I would advise you to wait till next week to get a clearer picture of developments in that regard.

    “All I can tell you for now is that almost all the members of the Reformed APC are coming back home (PDP) because majority of them had their roots in the PDP before they went to join the now deserted APC in 2014.

    “We are putting finishing touches to our discussions and there is mutual trust and understanding between us and our compatriots from the Reformed APC”, the source who pleaded for anonymity said.

    Asked whether change of name for the PDP was one of the issues on the cards, the source simply said discussions have gone far beyond name change.

    According to him, it was agreed at the last discussion that there may not be any need for the PDP to change name, considering the fact that the PDP is a brand that’s firmly entrenched in every nook and cranny of the country.

    “If you will agree with me, you can see that the PDP has rebranded and things are no longer done the old ways. Our national convention held on December 17, 2017 was a testimony to our rebranded status”, the source added.

    However, our correspondent independently gathered that there are still some knotty areas in the discussion, particularly as regards the control of existing party structures across many states that are not under the control of the PDP.

    For instance, the various state executive committees in such states are already apprehensive that the structures of the party might be taken away from them and handed over to some prominent chieftains among the incoming members.

    Some of the state executive committee members cited the case of the immediate past governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko who defected from the Labour Party to the PDP in 2013.

    They recalled that the existing PDP structure in the state was taken away from the executive committee and handed over to Mimiko by the then national leadership of the PDP.

    The development had created serious tension between old members and the new entrants led by the former Ondo governor.

    Some party leaders had attributed the crisis that engulfed the Ondo chapter of the PDP and the eventual loss of the governorship seat in 2017 to the leadership crisis created in the state chapter by Mimiko’s re-entry into the PDP.

    Similarly, it was also gathered that majority of intending defectors in the Reformed APC, particularly among members of the National Assembly, have insisted on having automatic 2019 return tickets to their seats as part of the bargain.

    This has created a dilemma for the leadership of the PDP because if the demand is acceded to, many of the party’s members may have to be sacrificed for the intending new comers.

    The party leaders are worried that this may create another crisis for the PDP that could lead to the exodus of a large number of party faithful who may want to pursue their aspiration on different political platforms.

    Our correspondent reliably gathered that the leadership of the PDP would be meeting with the leadership of the Reformed APC
    in the days ahead, with the view to resolving this and other knotty issues.

  • APC crisis: Oshiomhole assures on justice, fairness

    National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, on Wednesday said that the adoption of the principles of justice and fairness will be the way forward to resolve the differences in the party.

    Oshiomhole also noted that apart from upholding the principles of fairness and justice, the party would courageously stand by the truth to overcome its problems.

    The APC chairman spoke at a meeting between the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) of the party and APC Senate caucus at the National Assembly.

    He said that the party leadership was not necessarily bothered about the size of the party but the quality and commitment of members to the unity of the party.

    He assured the senators that issues breeding crisis in the party would be addressed in a manner to ensure a win-win situation.

    The party chairman noted that the issues threatening peace and unity of the party varied from State to State and from constituency to constituency.

    He added that the party under his leadership would painstakingly take steps to address all complaints.

    Read Also: Oshiomhole inherited party in cold war – Sani

    Oshiomhole who also spoke on the move by some members to increase the size of the party noted that such ambition could spell doom for the party.

    He said: “I think we should stop celebrating our size. I am not fascinated when people say we are the largest party in Africa. This is because in economics, you could suffer from diseconomics of scale.

    “You can become too big as to become dysfunctional. In the modern world that is knowledge-driven, small can be beautiful.”

    For him, the most important issue for the party is to make it more democratic and strong.

    He said, “So, I want to speak to democratic party, cohesive party, united party, the most powerful party. And this will be measured not by ourselves but by the Nigerian people in terms of what we are doing, how we do it and the cohesiveness that they can see.

    “So, that is in our hands and it is those values I want us to celebrate in future. I do not have any illusion that these are things we can just pluck. They have to be result of conscious hard work to have a united house.

    “So, I ask you Mr. President of the Senate and distinguished senators to trust that working together along with our leaders who are not here, we are committed to finding solutions that everyone will be able to smile, remain in the house, work in the house.”

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who responded to Oshiomhole’s remarks, also harped on justice and fairness.

    Saraki noted that justice and fairness were the issues party members had clamored for even before the national convention.

    After the opening session of the meeting, the party members went into a closed door session.

  • Breaking News: Ojudu withdraws from Ekiti governorship race

    A member of the seventh Senate, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, has withdrawn from the race for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket.

    Ojudu said he took the action because the National Working Committee (NWC) has failed to ensure a transparent process leading to the emergence of an acceptable candidate.

    He accused the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, of promoting injustice and favouring a particular aspirant.

    Details later.

  • Oyo AD opposes its NWC on caretaker committee

    A fresh crisis may be brewing in the Alliance for Democracy (AD) as the Oyo State Chapter of the party on Friday said it opposes the Caretaker Committee set up by its National Working Committee, saying the action is against the spirit of the party constitution.

    The party which also align itself with the decision of the Afenifere Group on the immediate restructuring of the country at the Southwest Yoruba Summit also said it is not planning to merge with any other political party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Rising from a stakeholders meeting which held at the Yemetu, Ibadan party secretariat, the party said its doors are wide open for members as well as decampees from other parties, provided they are willing to abide by the AD party constitution.

    The meeting which was chaired by the State Chairman, Chief Michael Akinropo also had in attendance the National Vice Chairman and Southwest Chairman, Otunba Tayo Onayemi, the party’s elders council, state executive members and party leaders from across the 33 local government areas of the state.

    Other stakeholders at the meeting also include four governorship aspirants including, Dr Akin Onigbinde, Mr Akeem Alao, Mr Opatoki and Mr Sanyaolu, among other leaders at the event.

    A communique issued at the end of the meeting said the NWC lacks the power to hold a meeting let alone taking decisions that are illegal and violates section 15 part 2 of the Party constitution.

    It read, “The Meeting passed a vote of confidence on the Oyo State Executive Committee led by Chief Michael Akinropo as Chairman and Hon. Wale Adebayo as the Secretary.

    “The meeting vehemently rejected the so-called caretaker committee illegally set up by a non-existent National Working Committee, as the group lacks the power to hold a meeting, talk-less of taking decisions that are illegal and violates section 15 part 2 of the Party constitution.

    “The meeting also resolved by an overwhelming majority to support the Afenifere resolution on the immediate need for restructuring of Nigeria as arrived at during the Southwest Yoruba Summit which held at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan, last year.

    “The meeting resolved to keep its doors wide open for old and new members as well as decampees from other parties, provided they are willing to abide by the AD party constitution. Such members should, however, join the party at its ward level as well as support existing leadership structure and programme of the party at all levels.”

  • Rooting for Buhari

    It is no longer news that President Muhammadu Buhari’s opposition to unconditional tenure elongation for the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) caused a stir in the ruling party.

    At the National Executive Committee meeting of the party held on the 27th of March, 2018, the President had bared his mind on the need to follow due process.

    The President had declared “I am delighted to once again welcome you to this National Executive Committee Meeting of our great party. As we usually do, I hope we will take the opportunity of this gathering to resolve outstanding issues and consolidate our plans towards making APC the strongest defender of the interests of our people.

    “ In particular, I think it is important for me to speak quickly on the contentious issue of the tenure of our National and State Executive Officers. As we all know, a motion was moved at the last National Executive Committee meeting of February 27, 2018, to the effect that when the tenure of the current executives expire in June this year, they should be allowed to continue for one year.

    “This motion was duly carried by a majority of members present at the last NEC Meeting, even though some of our party members have since spoken up very vehemently against it. Others have even taken the matter to court.

    “On my own part, I have taken some time to review and seek advice on the resolution. And what I found is that it contravenes both our party Constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. While the APC constitution in Article 17(1) and 13.2 (b) limit the tenure of elected officers to four years, renewable once by another election, the 1999 constitution of Nigeria (as amended) in section 223 also prescribes periodic elections for party executives at regular intervals which must not exceed four years.

    “Furthermore, Article 31 of our great party constitution provides that any principal officer wishing to re-contest, or contest for another post, must resign from his current post, at least, one month before the election.

    “In this circumstance, what is expected of us, is to conduct fresh elections once the tenure of the current executives approaches its end. A caretaker committee cannot remedy this situation and cannot validly act in place of elected officers. Furthermore, I think if we deviate from the constitutional provisions, we might be endangering the fortunes of our party.

    “If the tenure of our party executives can be legally faulted, then, it means that any nomination and primary election that they will conduct can also be faulted.

    “This is not to talk of divisions that will arise and is already arising within the party when some of our members feel that they are being denied the right to aspire to executive positions or that internal democracy is not at play within the party.

    “I am, therefore, of the firm view that it is better to follow strictly the dictates of our party and national constitutions, rather than put APC and its activities at grave risk. Fortunately, we have already approved a timetable for the holding of congresses and elections. I think these should be allowed to go forward and all efforts should now be geared towards making them a great success.” he stated

    But rather than agreeing immediately with the President’s desire for the constitution of the party to be strictly followed, the outgoing NWC decided to set up a technical committee headed by Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, to consider the President’s position.

    For their various reasons, some of the governors were not happy with the President’s position.

    They wanted the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun led NWC be given tenure elongation.

    The division among the governors was very obvious last week Tuesday before, during and after the APC governors meeting with the President at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.

    Before the meeting started, the governors briefly met while standing  on one side of the hall.

    Despite speaking to one another in low tone, it was obvious from their body language that the matter was causing a major disagreement among them.

    The governors’ meeting was cut short when the President’s arrival was announced in the hall.

    Although journalists were asked to leave the hall and they couldn’t see what actually transpired at the closed doors meeting, but they needed no witch doctor to know what happened.

    It was clear that all was not well.seeing the governors’ countenances  when they came out after the meeting ended,

    All the governors approached by journalists declined to comment on the outcome of the meeting with the President.

    While one of them confirmed that they have been instructed not to speak to journalists on the matter, some of them disclosed that the meeting among the governors will continue in Abuja that Tuesday night.

    Within 24 hours, the governors returned to the Presidential Villa last Wednesday and disclosed that all issues have been resolved and that there was no crisis in the party.

    The governors, which included Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Gamduje and Plateau State Governor, SimonLalong, said that the constitution of the party will be followed just like the President wanted.

    Yari said “Gentlemen of the press, you know yesterday we left you in the dark after the meeting and today we have seen so many captions that there is disagreement between the governors over the issue of party Chairman or about the party leadership.

    “No. We had a meeting with Mr. President yesterday (Tuesday), and we extended the meeting tonight and we followed up with the consultations with the President now.

    “We consulted and all the 24 governors of the APC are on the same page with Mr. President that we are going to respect our party constitution, we are going to respect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So therefore, we collectively agreed that we will have congresses at all levels – Local – State and National.

    “And the committee set up by the National Secretariat of our party headed by governor of Plateau State, is presenting its report later today. The governors are also meeting with the working committee today so that we come up with convention committee names as well as timetable of the election.

    “So, there is no deadlock in our meeting, we have progressed and very soon you will have the names of the convention committee members as well as the timetable.” he said

    Okorocha also added “I just want to let you know that there is no crisis in the APC at all. And we want to use this opportunity to advise the media operatives to stop spreading rumors of crisis in APC. There is no single crisis in APC.

    “The issue was one of people who believe that we did not have enough time to organize a party congress and run election. Some people felt that it was a good idea but the most important thing is that, if we do that we will be contravening both our party constitution and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That is the major issue that we have that they call crisis. We do not have crisis.

    “This morning we met with Mr. President to fine-tune issues, one regarding the congress and we have resolved that the congresses at all levels and the Chairman of the elongation committee, is also fine-tuning the arrangement in the same line. To this effect, the convention committee will be set out, it will be announced.

    “But let me correct one impression, the issue of congress and convention does not mean that the previous people who have served the party have done badly. And it does not mean that they cannot come back or that they cannot re-contest, that is not it.

    “We are simply saying that their tenure has ended and those who wish to re-contest can re-contest and can be elected into our party structure. So we are all one as family and we are set to go for 2019 elections in victory.” he said

    In a twist of events, the Lalong Technical committee set up by the NWC, while submitting its report last Friday, also supported the President’s position.

    Lalong said “This report has solved most of the problems that we were thinking was within the APC, that is to tell you that there is democracy in the party. We also looked at the passion and the commitment of the President towards keeping the party as one and at the end of the day, we made far-reaching recommendations.

    “We noticed that there were different interests, which is quite usual when you have a party like this, that is progressive, Already, we have received notices of NEC meeting for Monday which is also in line with our recommendations and we want to assure you that at the end of the day, APC is coming back to life,´´ he said.

    With this development, the Monday NEC meeting of the party in Abuja expected to decide on the date and time table for congresses and convention of the party towards paving way for a new set of leaders at all levels.

    It is really good to hear that the party has moved beyond the crisis.

    That is very key not only if the party want to remain the ruling party at the centre in 2019, also if it wants to remain dominant at the State and local government levels across the country.

     

  • No tenure extension yet for Oyegun, other APC leaders

    No tenure extension yet for Oyegun, other APC leaders

    The tenure of the National Working Committee (NWC) and state chapter executives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has not been extended.

    This is contrary to the impression created by Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello yesterday that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party had granted one year tenure elongation to the John Odigie-Oyegun-led NWC and the state executives.

    Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari said last night that “what has been done is a mere expression of interest. The power of the Convention to extend tenure is exercised only by way of a constitution amendment.

    “The power of the National Executive Committee of our party cannot go beyond doing so by way of constitution amendment.

    “Article 30 of the APC Constitution states:  ‘This constitution and the schedules hereto, can be amended only by the National Convention of the party”.

    “The process of amending the constitution is also expressly provided in Article 30 sub section 2. This states: “Notice of any proposed amendment by any member or organ of the party shall be given to the National Secretary at least 14 days before the date of the National Convention. The Notice shall be in writing, shall contain a clear statement of the proposed amendment and reasons for it.”

    Yari added:  “What was done today (yesterday) is only an expression of a desire to extend the tenure of Chief Oyegun-led National Executives.”

    Also last night, party spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi said what was agreed at the NEC was the intention to extend the tenure of the NWC and the state executives.

    He said the decision would only be consummated after an amendment of the constitution which will be effected before the expiration of the tenure of the NWC. The tenure ends in June..

    Abdullahi added that the party had slated another NEC meeting for next month.

    Bello told reporters after the NEC meeting that the decision was taken in line with Article 13 of the party, which allows the NEC to exercise the powers of the National Convention.

    He said the tenure extension was taken owing to the need to avoid any confusion in the party’s operation ahead of the 2019 general elections and to give the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led reconciliation committee time to carry out an effective job.

    The meeting started when President Muhammadu Buhari arrived at the APC headquarters, accompanied by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. It was attended by governors, members of the National Assembly, state APC chairmen and others.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara and some governors were absent.

    With Bello were National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi and the party’s chairmen in Plateau, Rivers, Anambra, Ondo and Nasarawa states.

    Bello said: “At the end of the National Executive Council meeting today, a major decision was taken in line with the constitution of our party. We are all aware that the tenure of the current NWC and the executive members of this party – both elected and appointed – comes to an end in June this year.

    “Considering the time left for the party to conduct all the congresses and convention and considering that our leader, Senator Tinubu, has been charged with the responsibility of reconciling all aggrieved members of our party, we cannot afford to approach the general elections with more dispute and crises.

    “Let me tell you that this will not stop the convention of the party. But to go into elective Congresses is what we are trying to avoid relying on the constitution of our party. As a matter of fact, Mr. President believes in ensuring that there are Congresses and convention across board.

    On the timeline for the Tinubu committee, he said: “I don’t have the terms of reference that was given to our leader and I want to believe that there is no committee that is set up without timeline. So, I’m not in the position to tell you the timeline given to that committee.

    “Also, every member of this committee – whether one man committee or multiple man committee – I want to assure you that every members of APC are cooperating 100 per cent with our leader, Senator Tinubu.”

    Those who attended the meeting included: Governors Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto), Sani Bello (Niger), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Nasir El Rufai (Kaduna), Abubakar Ibrahim (Bauchi), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Akinwumi Ambode (Lagos) Samuel Ortom (Benue), Simon Lalong (Plateau) and Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo).

    Others are: Senate Leader Ahmed Lawal, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Ibe Kachukwu, Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun, Deputy Senate Whip Francis Alimikhena, Senator Magnus Abe, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Senator Andy Uba, Senator Sani Yarima, House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila, House Whip Ado Dogowa, state chairmen among others.

  • Buhari to chair APC NEC meeting

    Buhari to chair APC NEC meeting

    President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to chair the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting coming up on Tuesday ahead of the party´s National Convention slated for Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Governors elected on APC platform, members of party’s Board of Trustee and National Working Committee (NWC) members among others.

    The meeting will also discuss national issues, the crisis within the party and take a decision on when its National Convention would hold.

    The national convention usually provides an avenue for the party to ratify its policies and programmes; elect or remove members of its NWC and amend its constitution if need be among other things.

    Source at the APC national secretariat said that the tenure of the present APC John Odigie-Oyegun-led NWC will expire in June, adding that new members would be elected at the party’s national convention slated for July.

    He said there were issues on whether the Odigie-Oyegun-led NWC should continue or be replaced.

    NAN reports that APC has been unable to hold the mandatory bi-annual non-elective convention since 2014 as stipulated in its constitution.

    The constitution makes it mandatory for the party to hold a bi-annual national convention to review party affairs and make necessary adjustments, where necessary.

    Article 25 (A)(i) of the APC Constitution specifically stipulates that the national convention of the party shall be held once in two years at a date, venue and time to be recommended by its NEC.

    The constitution further states that the date for the national convention must be approved by the party´s NEC, subject to the statutory notices given to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    At least 14-day notice will be given to eligible members to attend.

    Security operatives were seen around the APC National Secretariat carrying out surveillance around the premises ahead of Tuesday’s meeting.

     

  • APC Cross River chapter chairmanship election holds Saturday

    APC Cross River chapter chairmanship election holds Saturday

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday announced that chairmanship election for its Cross River chapter would hold on Saturday.

    Deputy National Secretary of the party, Mr Victor Giedan, announced this while speaking with newsmen at the party`s National Secretariat, in Abuja.

    He said that the decision for the poll was taken at a meeting of NWC and the party`s Cross River stakeholders, adding that democracy must be allowed to prevail in the party’s chapter in the state.

    Giedan said, the meeting was to get the buy-in of stakeholders to elect a new executive for the state.

    He assured, the party`s leadership would provide a level-playing ground for all aspirants and ensure that the exercise was conducted in a peaceful environment.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Kaduna factional APC secretariat demolished

    He also said that the new chairman that would be elected for the state chapter must come from the same zone with the suspended one.

    Former chairman of the party in the state, Mr John Ochalla, was suspended amid lingering crisis in the chapter.

    The ugly situation led to forceful occupation of the party’s secretariat in Calabar by some members, who allegedly broke into the building and vandalised.

    The “aggrieved’’ members claimed that there was a change in the leadership of the executive committee of the party in the state.

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Malam Bolaji Abudullahi, had while reacting to the development said that the perpetrators of the act would be investigated and prosecuted.

    He had condemned the development as “gross indiscipline’’, which had caused undue disaffection among party faithful in the state.

    NAN

  • Dokpesi pledges fairness for presidential aspirants, if elected national chairman

    Dokpesi pledges fairness for presidential aspirants, if elected national chairman

    Founder of Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, says his leadership will provide level-playing ground for all Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) presidential aspirants, if elected national chairman of the party.

    Dokpesi made the pledge while addressing zonal and state executive committee members and other members of the PDP during his campaign visit to Kano state on Saturday.

    He said that he was aware that the goal of PDP was to win presidency in 2019, and assured that as national chairman of the party, he would not allow manipulation of the process.

    “I am very conscious of the fact that our illustrious sons from Kano are looking forward to contesting for the presidency in the 2019 elections.

    “First of all, we must have a party and the first step is to create a National Working Committee that I can work along with to ensure that there is justice, fairness and equity.

    “I want to pledge firmly that there shall be a level-playing ground for all the presidential aspirants from the 19 northern states willing to vie for the office of the president.

    “We shall not manipulate any regulation. We will be transparent, and whoever God has chosen may He allow him to lead us to victory in 2019.

    “So, our choice of presidential candidate in 2019 will not be on the basis of wealth or accumulated money, but the human person that he is.

    “I want to plead with you that it is the same criteria that we will use for the election of the chairman, we must use for the election of the president,” he said.

    Dokpesi said his visit to Kano was to remind them of his plea for their support for his aspiration, for the state’s executive of the party and delegates to the Dec. 9 national convention to vote for him.

    He urged the delegates to vote on merit, not on sentiment.

    “I want to appeal to you to look at and chose anyone who you believe is ready to sacrifice for the party.

    “Vote for anyone you know has been consistent with this party when it was raining and when we needed umbrella over our head.

    “I want you to look at all the candidates and ask yourselves who among these candidates has been a bridge-builder and helped to reunite Nigeria. I am interested in Nigeria unity,” Dokpesi said.

    He advised PDP members not to allow themselves to be used by the All Progressives Congress (APC) or any PDP member to destroy the party, especially those planning to hold parallel convention.

    In his reaction, Mr Jinjiri Dutse, Zonal Auditor, who represented the National Deputy Chairman (North-West), said that the zone was preparing for the December convention.

    He expressed Kano state’s support for Dokpesi, adding that the state would also canvas for votes from other states
    in the Zone for Dokpesi.

    Sen. Baraka Sani, who is vying for National Women Leader, said that Dokpesi had shown verifiable support to the party in many ways, at different times.

    “This is what is expected from leaders. Tell us what we can verify, not to tell us something in the air. Let us see it, something we can touch or feel.”

    NAN

  • Anambra Guber poll: APC submits Nwoye’s name

    Anambra Guber poll: APC submits Nwoye’s name

    After several days of speculations and political horse trading, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has submitted the name of Hon. Tony Nwoye to the Independent National Electoral (INEC) as its candidate for the November 18 governorship election in Anambra state.

    The party also issued a certificate of return to Nwoye as the party’s candidate against the recommendation of the Appeal panel, calling for the outright cancelation of the primary election.

    The appeals panel had told the National Working Committee that most of the aspirants who contested the primary led by Sen Andy Uba, questioned Nwoye’s emergence, demanding a repeat of the exercise.

    However, the Chairman of the Committee that conducted the primary and Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima on his part told the party that non of the aspirants questioned the integrity of the primary through out the exercise.

    On his part, Senator Andy Uba who wanted an outright cancelation of the primary and declaring him winner, Sen Uba wrote: “I complained to some members of the Primary Election Committee sent from the headquarters of the party. To be frank, I continued with the exercise in protest after observing all these irregularities. Most of the disgruntled delegates of the primary election have gone to various courts to depose to an affidavit of events that transpired.”

    The Nation was informed that the Appeal panel recommended a repeat of the governorship poll.

     However, rising from a crucial meeting at the party national secretariat on Monday, decided to forward Nwoye’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in order to meet the deadline for submission of names of candidates for the election.

    National Organising Secretary Osita Izunazo, who confirmed the development told newsmen that the NWC threw out Sen. Uba’s petition against Nwoye and also overruled the recommendation of the Appeal panel for total concelation of the primary poll.

    “I can confirm to you that the NWC has issued certificate of return to Tony Nwoye as APC governorship candidate for November 18, Anambra election.”